The severity of crush injuries and accidents can vary from minor injuries that may leave you unable to return to work for a few days/weeks to more serious injuries * that may mean you cannot return to work, have to change your job and/or your quality of life is affected as a result. Regardless of which end of the spectrum you fall, there may be a legal route for you.

If you have been involved in a crush injury * it is critical to report the event once in a medically stable condition. If you have any queries or are uncertain about your situation contact our injury solicitors * to tell us about your case and find out more about this subject.

Causes

Overcrowding

Crush injuries * can occur both at the workplace and in public. A person can sustain an injury as a result of being in a large crowd that is not properly controlled or protected by the relevant authorities. Such an example of this has been seen at music concerts and football stadiums.

Machinery

The use of heavy machinery either at home or at work poses a significant threat to a persons’ health if inappropriately used. Those operating machinery in the workplace must be provided with (by their employer) relevant training, or have the relevant experience before operating the machinery. It is essential to have a firm level of training and understanding of the machine prior to use. Safety features such as guards and personal protective equipment (PPE) must also be provided by the employer. Failure to provide these safety measures may lead to injury and liability on the part of the employer.

Doorways

This is the most common cause of crush injuries. A person traps their fingers in the door resulting in severe pain. Doorway crushes can occur in public places where the door may be faulty or needs refurbishing. If the owner of a public place, like a restaurant, allows the use of an unsafe door they may be held liable for damages. The same can be said for an employer, if they have not provided a safe environment for their employees, they may also be held liable for the injury.

Road Accidents

Due to the high level of force when two vehicles collide it creates excess pressure on the body, often resulting in crush injuries *. This form of road accident * can also happen in a different capacity, such as a pedestrian accident.

Sport Accidents

Sports players takes the risk of serious injury when entering the field of sport. Although this is unlikely it can occur in seldom cases. It may be worthwhile checking what areas your insurance covers you when playing a sport.

What parts of your hand can be injured?

1. Bones of your hand

The human hand is made up of a number of different bones. Within each finger, there are three bones – the proximal, intermediate and distal phalanges. Damage to these can be repaired but it is likely not to recover to the mobility it once had.

2. Muscles, tendons and ligaments

These soft tissues allow your hand to grasp and release. Any damage to them can result in loss of movement which can be permanent.

3. Nerves of your hand

The nerves placed inside the hand allow a person to have their sense of touch. If these nerves are damaged the sense of touch can be reduced.

What to do after a crush injury *

1. Find a refuge point

To prevent further damage happening in the moments after a crush injury * a person should exit the dangerous area and make their way towards a safe zone, if possible. If a person is unable to remove themselves from the area the alert for help should be made. The area should only be approached by others if it safe to do so.

2. Seek medical attention

The most important factor after suffering a crush injury * is your own health. You should seek medical attention from a qualified practitioner. Although you may be in a state of shock it is critically important the injuries are treated as soon as possible. If the injuries go untreated for a considerable period of time it could be costly to the state of your health.

3. Report the incident

Once your health is in a stabilised condition the incident should be reported to the manager or property owner of the area. Not only is this the correct procedure to follow but it will also reduce the likelihood of the event happening to another person as increased safety measures will be implemented.

4. Contact a Personal Injury Solicitor *

If you are considering a claim speaking with a solicitor is a good start. They will be able to help you through each stage of the process, from Injuries Board submission to consideration of any offer given to you.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CASE

If you are considering to make a crushed injury claim *, don’t hesitate to contact 01 649 9900 for a confidential discussion or reach out via email to ask@traceysolicitors.ie. If you would rather we call you, please do feel free to tell us about your case by leaving your details along with a message outlining your query on the form below and we can call you back.

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*In contentious business a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.

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